The President’s Record on Rural Issues

President Obama is creating a rural economy built to last—one focused on reclaiming the security of the rural middle class by growing products that the rest of the world buys, and restoring the basic values of hard work and fair play that made our country great. Under President Obama, American farmers are seeing:

• Record-high farm income;
• Record-high agricultural exports;
• Millions of acres enrolled in conservation programs.
• Agriculture is now one of the fastest-growing parts of our economy, creating one out of every 12 American jobs.

By investing in job creation, clean energy, agriculture and education, President Obama is building a stronger rural economy, where future generations can enjoy the rural American way of life.

• The Obama administration has extended credit to a record number of small business owners, boosting economic growth in rural America.
• President Obama has helped 50,000 rural small businesses access new credit and financing that has spurred entrepreneur¬ship and supported 266,000 jobs.
• In 2011, the President helped 32,000 small- and medium-sized businesses in rural America receive critical loans that helped them promote, build, and sustain their family farms.

President Obama is working aggressively to develop a clean-energy economy that is supporting jobs and helping lower energy costs in rural America.

• Under President Obama, U.S. biofuel production is at its highest level in history.
• The President has made historic investments to support the development and use of renewable fuels, and he is implementing a renewable fuel standard that has helped boost the production of biodiesel to nearly 1 billion gallons in 2011, supporting 39,000 jobs.
• President Obama is also making historic clean-energy investments, supporting more than 5,700 renewable energy and energy efficiency improvement projects in rural America.
• The Obama administration has partnered with thousands of farmers, ranchers and rural businesses to help save energy and improve their bottom lines.

President Obama understands the economic competitiveness of rural America depends on its transportation, water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

• President Obama expanded broadband access to nearly 7 million rural Americans, including 364,000 rural businesses, supporting over 25,000 jobs and helping rural businesses become more competitive.
• The Obama administration is dedicating resources to acceleration of 3G and 4G network deployment in rural areas throughout the U.S., closing gaps in mobile technology coverage.
• The President is investing in building 21st century infrastructure in rural communities, including bridges, critical roads, and rail in rural areas.
• The Obama administration has invested in 5,100 water and wastewater community infrastructure projects, safeguarding the health of 18 million rural residents and supporting 135,000 jobs.

President Obama recognizes that the outdoors is an invaluable national treasure and a critical resource for the tourism industry, and that our farmers and ranchers are leaders in protecting it.

• The Obama administration is working with more than 500,000 farmers and ranchers to implement conservation practices on about 30 million acres of land.
• The President signed one of the largest expansions of wilderness protections in 25 years and is taking action to promote outdoor recreation, which contributes more than $1 trillion to the economy and supports more than 9 million jobs.